Chapter 156 HEAT OF THE MOMENT
Edeline
“So...” Anita’s heels clicked against the stone floor, the sound reverberating through the cavern as she approached me. “I just wanted to clarify that there is no intention of posing any threat.” She came to a stop right in front of me, her eyes gleaming with a rich hazel-golden hue. “There are just a couple of things that need to happen. Tatiana has to part ways with Percival and—”
I took a slow step back, my hands instinctively rising in a gesture of surrender. “I want nothing to do with that,” I said, my voice tinged with disbelief. The situation was spiraling out of control, and I was taken aback by Anita’s sudden shift in demeanor.
A sly smirk tugged at her lips. “Hey, I just need you to do one thing for me. Spend some time with Percival. Go to him right away.”
Confusion knitted my brows together. “What the heck—”
Before I could finish my question, Anita moved swiftly. She grabbed me and spun me around, forcing me to face away from her. I felt the cold bite of silver as she wrapped a chain around my waist. The metal was uncomfortably hot against my skin, and I tensed at the searing sensation. The pouch of herbs vanished from her grasp, replaced by a vial of liquid that she uncorked and shoved towards my mouth.
I struggled fiercely, trying to wrench away from her grip. “Hey, no need to worry. Just go ahead and swallow,” she said, her tone disturbingly casual. The words came out in a whisper, but there was no mistaking the command in them.
I was stunned, my mind racing as I tried to comprehend what was happening. I reached out, but my hands grasped at nothing. My breath came in ragged gasps as the silver burned into my flesh, making every movement excruciating. I inhaled sharply, the bitter oil sliding down my throat. I fought to endure, but the taste was overpowering and vile.
Coughing and choking on the acrid flavor, I fell onto my hands and knees as Anita released me. The silver chain slipped from my grasp, and I tried to steady myself. My heart pounded as I struggled to catch my breath.
“Your heat will come on in a few moments. You better start moving, little wolf, or one of the males will catch up with you,” Anita said, her grin widening with a hint of madness.
My vision swam as I struggled to process her words. I felt a surge of anger, but my wolf remained oddly passive. I looked up at Anita, my eyes burning with frustration. “What did you do to my wolf!?” I demanded, my voice cracking with both rage and fear.
Anita crouched down to meet my gaze, her eyes gleaming with a cold, calculating light. “The tea you’ve been drinking regularly to conceal your scent from males is similar to the tea I used on Tatiana to mask her heat entirely. However, you can still sense your heat, unlike Tatiana. The oil you just consumed has reversed the effects of the scent-masking brew you’ve been taking. It has made your scent even more enticing. Based on your natural scent, your heat will begin very soon, and its aroma will spread far and wide.” Her smirk grew more pronounced, making me want to wipe it off her face with sheer force.
“No way! Really?” I exclaimed, my disbelief palpable. I stared up at her, hoping for some semblance of truth in her words.
Anita simply nodded, her expression remaining unchanged. Without further explanation, she casually scanned the area. “Hey, if you head over to that corner in the back of the cave,” she said, pointing towards the dark shadows beyond the shimmering pond, “there’s a small wedge in the rocks. Slide your body past it, and you’ll find the cave entrance behind the waterfall. Better hurry, time’s running out!” Her tone was almost playful, as if she enjoyed watching my desperation.
“Hey!” I shouted, my voice echoing through the cave. As I scrambled to my feet, ready to confront her, a creak from the cellar door above stopped me in my tracks. Someone was coming down. Without thinking, I bolted past her as she quickly retreated into her cell, narrowly avoiding any mishaps. My feet pounded against the stone floor as I raced toward the edge of the cave, rushing past the mesmerizing pond with its eerie, glowing aqua light.
My fingers grazed the cold, rough stones, and a shiver of unease swept over me. Where exactly was the exit?
I knew I had to move quickly. If I didn’t find a way out before my heat hit, any guy nearby would definitely sense my presence. The thought made me anxious; I was desperate to avoid attracting any attention.
I fought back tears of frustration as I desperately searched with my hands, only to slice them on jagged edges. The warm blood trickled down my fingers, mingling with the dirt as I scrambled around. Behind me, Anita’s high-pitched cackle pierced the air.
“Come on, little wolf! They are coming!” Anita’s voice, dripping with mockery, came from her cell. My shout of frustration and fear echoed back at me.
This was not how I had envisioned things. I cursed under my breath, feeling the panic rise. Anita had promised me chaos, and she was delivering.
Then, I remembered her parting words. “Just thought I'd give you one final taste of chaos.”
In that moment, as I moved through the darkness, I sensed a faint draft. It felt like a sign. The breeze dried my tears, and I realized I had found the tunnel.
I hurried down the stairs, squeezing into a narrow gap between two rough stone slabs. It was an uncomfortable squeeze, and I scraped my stomach against the rocks as I carefully maneuvered through. The discomfort barely registered; my focus was solely on escaping.
As my skin warmed from the exertion, I pushed forward, determined not to let fear slow me down. Even if it was a trap, I had no choice but to keep moving. The danger of the heat was too real to ignore.